Acute Care Transitions Advisory Council minutes

Feb. 29, 2024

Members and participants

Council members present: Laura Arnold, Randy Baumgard, Joshua Berg, Jody Donay, Sheila Grisim, Jonelle Hubbard, Brad Johnson, Natasha Merz, Nicole Muchek, Susan Pleasants, Jessica Simacek, Cindy St. George, Simon Warren

Council Members Absent (N=1): Tom Delaney, Carol Backstrom

Total Council Members: N=13

Additional Participants: Stacy Danov (DHS), Dani Dunphy (U of MN ICI facilitator), Rachel Freeman (U of MN ICI facilitator), Margaret Moore (U of MN ICI facilitator), Jennifer Jeffrey-Pearsall (U of MN ICI facilitator), Amy Peterson (DHS), Juanita St Croix (DHS), Rachel Wannarka (Designee for Tom Delaney), Tiffany Whitebird

Introductions and start of meeting

Jennifer Jeffrey-Pearsall (U of MN ICI facilitator) began the meeting and Rachel Freeman (U of MN ICI facilitator) announced that the meeting was being livestreamed, that there was an additional onsite location with a council member in attendance and that anyone can ask questions and provide email correspondence by emailing DHS.

The role call was conducted prior to starting the meeting in order to confirm a quorum and to introduce new council members prior to the call to order. The quorum was confirmed.

Welcome, call to order

The co-chairs of the council, Josh Berg and Laura Arnold, called the meeting to order.

Review and approve the agenda, meeting minutes and procedures

Josh Berg asked whether anyone wanted to approve the agenda for Feb. 29, 2024, or if any additional items were needed before starting the meeting.

Motion: Brad Johnson moved to approve the agenda for Feb. 29, 2024.
Second: Laura Arnold
Discussion: None
Yes: Laura Arnold, Randy Baumgard, Joshua Berg, Jody Donay, Sheila Grisim, Jonelle Hubbard, Brad Johnson, Natasha Merz, Nicole Muchek, Susan Pleasants, Jessica Simacek, Cindy St. George, Simon Warren
No: 0
Abstain: 0

The next order of business was the review and vote to approve the meeting minutes from Jan. 25, 2024.

Motion: Sheila Grisim moved to approve the Jan. 25, 2024 meeting minutes.
Second: Laura Arnold
Discussion: Brad Johnson indicated the word Commissioner had a small typographical error in the meeting minutes and suggested that the motion be modified.
Yes: Laura Arnold, Randy Baumgard, Joshua Berg, Jody Donay, Sheila Grisim, Jonelle Hubbard, Brad Johnson, Natasha Merz, Nicole Muchek, Susan Pleasants, Jessica Simacek, Cindy St. George, Simon Warren
No: 0
Abstain: 0

Outline of written report

The council discussed notes created to discuss the definitions that help clarify the role of the written report and focus on information gathering. One clarification made is that the focus of this council is to address barriers to transition related to emergency room admittance and individuals who are admitted into the hospital. The group discussed the need to better understand the population of people who stayed beyond medical necessity in either the emergency room or hospital. The following motion was created:

Motion: Laura Arnold moved to request the facilitators of the council reach out to Susan Pleasant to obtain transfer data put it into a usable or visual format.
Second: Jessica Simacek
Discussion: Discussion included the possibility of acquiring other forms of data but motion stands as is.
Yes: Laura Arnold, Randy Baumgard, Joshua Berg, Jody Donay, Sheila Grisim, Jonelle Hubbard, Brad Johnson, Natasha Merz, Nicole Muchek, Susan Pleasants, Jessica Simacek, Cindy St. George, Simon Warren
No: 0
Abstain: 0

The following action was identified as a first step in a broader investigation of data related to barriers to transition from ER and/or hospital settings that occur beyond medical necessity.

Action: Facilitators will review the literature at the national level including (peer reviewed and grey material), and I and other data sources to identify original source data.

This action was made into a motion based on a request from one of the co-chairs.

Motion: Jessica Simacek moved for facilitators to review the literature at the national level including peer reviewed, grey material and other data sources to identify original source data.
Second: Laura Arnold
Discussion: None
Yes: Laura Arnold, Randy Baumgard, Joshua Berg, Jody Donay, Sheila Grisim, Jonelle Hubbard, Brad Johnson, Natasha Merz, Nicole Muchek, Susan Pleasants, Jessica Simacek, Cindy St. George, Simon Warren
No: 0
Abstain: 0

Action: Council members are asked to review the notes and related bullet points about potential barriers to transition with other people they work with and/or support. Please send information back to the facilitators prior to the next meeting.

Presentation on the Transitions, Tribal and Transformation Division (TTT), including the Complex Transition Unit

Amy Peterson, TTT director

This presentation summarized services related to acute care transitions that the Department of Human Services have put in place to address barriers to transitions from emergency room/hospital placements.

Strengths and needs activity related to acute care services and positive supports

Rachel Freeman, Co-facilitator

The council discussed strengths and needs from the three-tiered perspective that addressed a continuum of intensive strategies.

Open session

The open session with comments and discussion from non-council member participants and council members.

Prepare for the next meeting

The council discussed the initial outline of the report and the types of qualitative and quantitative data needed beyond the earlier discussion related to accessing specific quantitative data sources already shared. Examples of potential sources of data for the report include focus group sessions and a statewide survey.

Upcoming council meetings

Meeting adjourned

Ended by the co-chairs with an informal statement of closure.